CANNES, FRANCE –Viacom International Media Networks (VIMN) announced that long-time partner and leading UK terrestrial broadcaster, ITV, has secured season one and season two broadcast rights for Nickelodeon’s hotly anticipated new animation series, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, for simulcast on ITV1 and CITV. The deal, along with a raft of multi-territory pre-sales, was announced by Caroline Beaton Senior Vice President, International Programme Sales for VIMN at MIPCOM 2012 in Cannes.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles will air across ITV1 and CITV, the children’s television arm, starting in Spring 2013. ITV and VIMN also confirmed season three pick-ups of Nickelodeon’s hit live action series, Big Time Rush and Victorious.

Beaton commented on the deal: “ITV is the perfect broadcast home for Nick’s heroes in a half-shell, complementing their hugely popular action packed animation line-up.” Adding, “These deals directly reflect the enormous buzz Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is generating in the international TV buying marketplace, securing more pre-sale deals than ever before for a Nickelodeon series as well as Nick’s proven ability to deliver hit content that appeals to audiences around the world.”

Jamila Metran, Head of Programming, CITV, said: "We are very pleased to have secured the enduring children's favourite Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles for broadcast on CITV and ITV breakfast. The deal continues ITV's successful partnership with VIMN on past titles which include Victorious and Big Time Rush."

Following its launch success in the US (29 September), Nickelodeon has ordered 26 additional episodes of the series, which will begin airing next year. The series premiered on 1 October in the UK and is rolling out across Nickelodeon channels around the world between now and December 2013.

The reintroduction of this storied franchise has ignited excitement in the licensing community and Spring 2013 will see the launch of an extensive consumer products programme based on the pizza-loving, green heroes. Long-standing Turtles toy partner Playmates Toys has already unveiled an impressive line of new products developed to support the refreshed series.

Considered one of the most popular kids’ television programs of the 1980s, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is a classic, global property created in 1984 by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird. It first debuted as a successful comic book series and then became a hit animated TV show, a live-action television series and later spawned four blockbuster theatrical releases. The property also has translated into a significant consumer products business—with DVDs, video games, toys and more--that has generated billions of dollars at retail.